Chapter 16: The Cloud Hidden Envoy

After returning home, Naruto eagerly tore open the gift. Inside was a pair of warm gloves, quite similar in style to the ones he had previously obtained through the system. Along with the gloves was a note filled with blessings and well wishes.

Unfortunately, it was already spring, so he no longer needed gloves for warmth—they wouldn't be useful for now.

Still, this was the first time Naruto had ever received a gift from someone his own age.

Just then, the Nine-Tails' voice sounded out of nowhere, as sharp as ever:

"Kid, what are you grinning about? Could it be you've got a crush on that Byakugan girl?"

Naruto shoved the gloves into his pocket and shot back bluntly,

"Big fox, have you ever been in love? Ever had someone of the opposite sex give you a gift? Don't be jealous."

The Nine-Tails paused for a moment, then put on a knowing expression:

"I'm a tailed beast—gender doesn't matter for me. Love? That's not something I've experienced. But I've lived for over a thousand years—seen every kind of love and hate you can imagine. My experience far exceeds yours."

"If you beg me, I might reluctantly become your mentor and give you some pointers."

Naruto looked skeptical. Unconvinced, the Nine-Tails proceeded to list some "dating tips"—things like holding your lover under the moonlight, the 'hugging while holding a girl' move, and other cheesy tricks.

Naruto's eyes went wide in surprise. This guy really had some wild ideas.

But as far as Naruto knew, dating mentors were usually magicians. The Nine-Tails was probably closer to being a great wizard, so the advice was pretty unreliable.

Sensing the malicious skepticism from Naruto, the Nine-Tails slowed his speech. Being able to sense hostility was bad—Naruto might seem to be listening carefully, but inside he was clearly looking down on the fox, emitting a faint aura of malice.

Still, the Nine-Tails wasn't about to give up his rare moment of boasting, so he kept talking.

After half an hour, Naruto was visibly impatient. The Nine-Tails finally stopped his endless lecture and returned to lie quietly within the seal, waiting for Naruto's chakra at night.

After dinner, Naruto didn't shower or study but stood by the window, gazing at the night-shrouded Hidden Leaf, specifically the area of the Hyuga clan.

"Young people receiving gifts is normal. Don't overthink it. Don't get too excited—go to bed early," the Nine-Tails' voice came again, sounding just like a wise old man.

Naruto shook his head. "It's not that. I feel like something's going to happen in the village tonight, so I'm taking up a good vantage point, ready to watch the commotion first-hand."

"Watch the commotion?" The Nine-Tails was unimpressed. "Could it be that masked man again tonight?"

Naruto explained, "Recently, a Cloud Hidden envoy group arrived. Besides signing the peace treaty like Shikamaru said, I sense they have other plans. They won't behave peacefully."

"Cloud ninja? They really are crazy. Two leaders once tried to mess with me—Kinkaku and Ginkaku—but they were doomed from the start against my strength," the Nine-Tails said disdainfully.

Naruto grinned mischievously. "Big fox, you're so strong—how did the Hidden Leaf manage to seal you away?"

The Nine-Tails was no longer the fierce beast of old. He snorted coldly, "I was sealed by the First Hokage, who was invincible back then. He dominated the entire ninja world. The Cloud Hidden couldn't even fart without fear."

"Now, your Hidden Leaf hesitates even against a small group of Cloud ninja."

Just as Naruto was about to retort, he spotted several figures leaping onto the distant castle wall. He said to the Nine-Tails, "Stop the bickering, big fox. The commotion I mentioned is starting."

The Nine-Tails sensed the spreading chakra and said with curiosity,

"So many ninja mobilized—tonight's going to be interesting. But if you already suspected the Cloud ninja would act tonight, why didn't you tell your Third Grandfather?"

"Do you think he'd believe me? Even if I told him, nothing would change—and it might just make him suspicious of me. Better to quietly watch the show and avoid trouble."

Saying that, Naruto pulled out the chips he'd gotten from Choji and began snacking.

The Nine-Tails accepted the chips and, while sensing the distance, looked at Naruto thoughtfully.

Naruto said he wouldn't warn anyone but had already warned Hinata. He's always been two-faced—saying one thing and doing another. Wonder if he got that from Kushina or from that annoying Minato.

...

While Naruto and the Nine-Tails prepared to watch the commotion, the ANBU members assigned to protect Naruto couldn't sit still. After noticing activity near the Hyuga clan's territory, they debated whether to intervene.

But their mission was clear—to protect Naruto, the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.

After a brief discussion, Gekkō Hayate decided, "Yugao, continue with the mission. The Hokage and others will handle this."

Coughing a few times, his pale face beneath the animal mask showed his poor health.

Yugao nodded, looking worried. "Hayate, your lung disease has worsened. Maybe we should both leave the ANBU."

Hayate shook his head. "Just a few more years and we'll become jonin. It's hard to reach jonin rank elsewhere. Only by becoming jonin can the Gekkō family rise."

Yugao sighed, about to respond, but noticed several sneaky figures nearby.

Hayate frowned, "Aren't those envoy members? Why are they near the jinchuriki? Could they be planning to attack him?"

Yugao guessed, "Hard to say. But we need to watch them closely and avoid any mishaps."

Hayate coughed again, "Keep watching. I'll try to contact Captain Kakashi. He can't afford to slack off now."

While Yugao and Hayate surveilled the Cloud ninja, the Cloud ninja were surveilling them in return.

One Cloud ninja said to his team leader, "Captain, are we really going to attack the jinchuriki? I didn't expect the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki to be treated like a demon in the Leaf village, constantly shunned."

The captain glanced at his young subordinate. He wanted to say that it's the same everywhere—even Killer Bee is treated like a monster. Jinchuriki face discrimination no matter where they go.

But the mission was more important. He hurriedly explained, "Attacking the jinchuriki means war. Our village doesn't want to continue fighting. Our task is to distract part of the Leaf's ANBU to give the boss a chance to seize the Byakugan."

"It's a pity. If we could kidnap the jinchuriki, our village would grow stronger."

Several Cloud ninja expressed regret.

If they could capture the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, it would benefit both the jinchuriki and the Cloud village.

Although the Cloud Hidden also feared and discriminated against jinchuriki, they believed that strength was paramount. The jinchuriki would receive ample attention and resources there.

(End of Chapter)

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